SCHOLARLY AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Research and scholarly projects can be YOUR PATHWAY to the career you want!

COMMITMENT

The University of Illinois College of Medicine is devoted to providing a comprehensive student scholarship experience encompassing the breadth and depth of biomedical research pursuits in modern academic medicine.

OPPORTUNITY

Our students engage with faculty mentors who conduct innovative, cutting edge research in basic biomedical science and translate fundamental findings into clinical practice and societal health across all University of Illinois College of Medicine campuses and medical specialties.

ACHIEVEMENT

Research and scholarship participation affords our students with critical analytical, communication, and problem solving skills; offers scientific education and enrichment; enhances residency candidacy and competitiveness; and cultivates career success and maturation into burgeoning physician scientists.

Research and scholarship FAQs for Students: what you need to know before you get involved!

Look here for contacts, tips, and links to programs, opportunities, faculty, and information to get involved!

Programs

Craig Fellowship

The Craig Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship program enables medical students who are interested in research and scholarship to conduct defined projects during the summer between the first and second years of medical school under the guidance and mentorship of University of Illinois College of Medicine faculty.

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James Scholar Program

The James Scholar for Independent Study program focuses on supporting and refining research skills among medical students as they develop into clinical professionals. The James Scholar program is designed to support outstanding medical student researchers during their M2-M4 years, with longitudinal research projects culminating in high-level activities, such as presentations at scientific conferences and publication of research papers.

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Scholarly Concentration Programs

The Scholarly Concentration Programs (SCP) are optional four-year specialized medical training pathways that provide educational experiences in unique areas of medical practice. They are open to all UI COM students and can be layered with other Co-Curricular programs. They allow students to engage in experiences of their choosing that lead to multidisciplinary scholarship, research and community engagement. Scholarly Concentration Programs do not add time or cost to completing an MD degree and the required work is manageable and is scheduled around the requirements of the MD curriculum. These programs include Rural Medicine Education Program (RMED), Global Medicine Education Program (GMED), Urban Medicine (UMED), Innovation Medicine (IMED), Clinician Executive Medicine (CEMED) and Equity Innovation Medicine (EquiMED).

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Joint Degree Programs

The University of Illinois College of Medicine offers several joint degree programs in which another graduate degree is earned in addition to the medical degree, including MD/MPH, MD/MBA, and MD/MS combined degree programs.

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Phase 2/3 (M3/M4) Research/Scholarship Self-Designed Electives

University of Illinois College of Medicine students may undertake longitudinal mentored research electives designed to receive from 2-8 weeks (hours) of elective credit.

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Mentors Program

The University of Illinois College of Medicine Mentors program aims to expose students to a variety of medical specialties and integrate the basic sciences with clinical thinking skills. Interested students are matched with a resident or fellow from a specialty and have the opportunity to enter the clinic and receive hands-on training.

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College of Medicine Research Forum

The annual College of Medicine Research Forum allows students to present the results of their research (for example, in the Craig or James programs) in poster format, with a chance to win research support prizes. For research forum abstracts, click here. The abstracts list authors and the lab which performed the work. If interested in the line of research, please contact the principal investigator.

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Featured Programs

View the internal and external opportunities listed below for specific information regarding openings and contacts. While not exhaustive, these links are a good starting point and are updated with some regularity; keep returning!

UICancer Center Trainee Membership

Click here to learn more.

Summer Intern Scholarship in Cardiothoracic Surgery

UIC Health Professions Student Council: Travel Grants

The Department of Pediatrics Summer Scholars Program Registration and Paid Fellowship Application are now open!

The purpose of the Summer Scholars Program is to enrich the experience of students conducting research in the Pediatric Department. All students working for Pediatric Faculty are invited to participate and all faculty in the Department are encouraged to participate as faculty mentors. Registration into the Summer Scholars Program is completely free.

Please click the link below for more information and to register for the program.

https://chicago.medicine.uic.edu/departments/academic-departments/pediatrics/research/education/

PAID FELLOWSHIPS AVAILABLE:

We also have some funding available for students to apply to. The Fellowship application deadline is March 31st. Please note: Successfully registering into the Summer Scholars program is different than applying for the Paid Fellowship, and does not guarantee funding.

Society of Interventional Radiology Grants for Education of Medical Students (GEMS) Program

Click here to learn more

More Featured Opportunities

Mentor Resources

By providing guidance, support, advice, strategic feedback, and other insights to a mentee, a mentor can learn and enhance leadership skills. Click below to learn more about becoming an effective mentor.

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Mentee Resources

Mentorship can have an important influence on student personal development, career guidance, career choice, and research productivity. Click below to learn more about becoming an effective mentee.

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Tools for Conducting Research

Click below to access useful tools for conducting research.

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Scholarly Activity FAQs

Click below for scholarly activity FAQs.

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Contacts

Follow the links below to help identify faculty research and scholarship mentors at the University of Illinois College of Medicine campuses.

Chicago

UIC College of Medicine

Quick Links
• Research Highlights
• Research Departments and Centers

Please contact Dr. Randal Dull to learn about opportunities.

Please contact Dr. Michelle Bain to learn about opportunities.

Please contact Ms. Sara Heinert to learn about opportunities.

Please contact Dr. Memoona Hasnain to learn about opportunities.

Visit the Faculty Directory to learn more about the Department of Family Medicine faculty and their research interests.

Please visit the Department of Medicine Scholarly Activities website to view opportunities.

Please contact Dr. Charles Abrams or Dr. Stephania Maraka to learn about opportunities.

Please contact Ms. Avis Foster to learn about opportunities.

Please visit the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology website to view opportunities.

Please visit the Department of Ophthalmology website or contact Dr. Pooja Bhat to learn about opportunities.

Please contact Ms. Theresa Mora to learn about opportunities.

Please visit the Department of Otolaryngology website or contact Dr. Jeff Yu to learn about opportunities.

Please visit the Department of Pathology website or contact Dr. Fred Behm to learn about opportunities.

Please visit the Department of Pediatrics website to learn about opportunities.

Please contact Dr. Olu Ajilore to learn about opportunities.

Please contact Dr. Ron Gaba to learn about opportunities.

Please contact Dr. Amelia Bartholomew to learn about opportunities.

Please contact Ms. Kristin Anderson to learn about opportunities.

Peoria

View the Medical Students Scholarly and Research Projects (6.7 MB; PDF) for contact and general information.

Students may also consult Dr. Bento De Mello Soares, the Associate Dean for Research on the Peoria campus, directly.

Rockford

View research opportunities for students.

Visit the Office of Research in Rockford for information regarding their services to connect students to research faculty.

Students may also consult Dr. Kayéromi Gomez, Director of Student Research on the Rockford campus, directly.

Share Your Feedback

Please let us know if you have comments and suggestions, if you are experiencing any issues, or want to share a scholarly or research opportunity by filling out the feedback form HERE. We are able to provide helpful updates for everyone based on comments and feedback from users like you. Thank you!